Musings, leadership tidbits and quotes posted by a retired Navy Captain (really just a high performing 2nd Class Petty Officer) who hung up his uniform a bit too early. He still wears his Navy service on his sleeve. He needs to get over that. "ADVANCE WARNING - NO ORIGINAL THOUGHT!" A "self-appointed" lead EVANGELIST for the "cryptologic community". Keeping CRYPTOLOGY alive-one day and Sailor at a time. 2015 is 80th Anniversary of the Naval Security Group.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thoughts borrowed liberally (stolen) from the Army...

As the Navy struggles with its emerging prominent role in the Post-Iraq War military, it will need to strive to reach an understanding of professionalism as applied to Sailors and to the Department of the Navy itself. Is there one professional military ethic or multiple ethics? Does a professional military ethic apply only to officers? Are officers the only Sailors who should be held to professional standards? Or, should all Sailors be committed to professional standards and functions utilizing specific professional ethics appropriate to their duties?

To help answer these considerations, we can re-conceptualize these nine questions as they apply specifically to the Navy:

Who are the Navy's primary stakeholders?

What are the central values held by the Navy?

What is the ideal relationship between Sailors and their stakeholders?

What sacrifices are required of Sailors, and in what respects do the obligations of this profession take priority over other morally relevant considerations affecting Sailors?

What are the norms of competence for this profession?

What is the ideal relationship between Sailors and co-professionals?

What is the ideal relationship between Sailors and the larger community?

What should Sailors do to make access to the profession's services available to everyone who needs them?

What are Sailors obligated to do to preserve the integrity of their commitment to the profession's values and to educate others about them?

As the Navy answers these questions, it can better develop initiatives to establish codes of conduct and professional education within the military that allow it to more fully meet standards of professionalism. By identifying and achieving professional standards, the Navy can campaign to develop social awareness and encourage endorsement of the Navy's unique service to our country, an endorsement that recognizes the professionalism of the U.S. Navy Sailor.